Automatic soldering machine for lamp bases



Dec. 6, 1927. 1,651,399

' H. DE F. MADDEN AUTOMATIC SOLDERING MACHINE FOR LAMP BASES Filed Feb.20. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I i i \I 5/" 65' 52 v 74 j 57 .56 I El JD [7 7V VENTOR 4 5462 70 629 1 4 HARRY D. MADDEN ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1927.1,651,399

- H. DE F. MADDEN AUTOMATIC SOLDERING MACHINE FOR LAMP BASES Filed Feb.20. 1924 3 Sheets-SheetZ HARRY 0. MADDEN ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 192 7. 71,651,399

H. DE F. MADDEN AUTOMATIC SOLDERING MACHINE FOR LAMI KBASES Filed Feb.20. 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HARRY D. HHDDEM ATTORNEY PatentedDec. 6, 1927. i

UNITED STATES PATENT orrilcn.

HARRY DE FOREST MADDEN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTINGHOUSELA MP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

v ntrzromnrrc sonnnnme MACHINE non LAMP Bases.

Application filed February 20, 1924. Serial N0. 694,176.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of incandescentelectric lamps and more particularly to a machine for securingleading-in wires to the bases of such lamps.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and automaticmechanism for soldering the leading-inwires tometallic bases of lamps. vI H Another object of the invention is to provideimeans for supportingalamp and auto matically changing'the' position ofthe supported lamp. V y

A further object of the invention is to provide coordinating machineelements for receiving lamps, positioning the lamps in operativerelation to soldering mechanism and in actuating said mechanism tosolder leading-in wire to the base portion of the lamp.

Other objects and advantages will be ap parent as the descriptionproceeds.

The manufacture of incandescent elec tric lamps includes one or moresoldermgoperations to electrically connect the leading in wires orconductors of a lamp with the metallic portion of the base, to permit aflow of electrical current when a lamp is screwed or otherwise insertedinto the socket of a lighting circuit.

The lamps as generally constructed have one of the leading-in wiresthereof secured to a contact member which is insulated from the shell ormetallic-base. This insulated contact member is generally positioned atthe lower end of the base and disposed axially thereof. The otherleading-in wire is usuall soldered or otherwise secured to the threa edportion of the lamp; that is, upon the periphery of'the base and todistinguish the union of this wire from the axially disposed connection,it may be termed a fperipheral contact.

The present invention provides a machine and peripherally disposedconductors.

Heretofore the above mentioned conductors were connected to the base bymanual operations and a considerable amount of time and skill wasrequired to satisfactorily perform these operations.

The present machine comprises means for supporting a lamp in the properrelation to heated mechanism for feeding solder adjacent to a leading-inwire of a lamp. The solder-feed ing mechanism is so arranged thatprevious to its disposition adjacent to -a leading-in wire, the end ofsolder is dipped into a flux carried in a suitably disposed receptacle.

When the solder is positioned over the leading-in wire, a soldering ironwhich may be by a gas flame, 1s moved into contact with the soldercausing a drop thereof to fuse and connect the leading-inwi-re to thebase, after which the soldering iron is removed and the lamp may bereplaced by another for a repetition of the foregoing operations. V

A machine embodying my invention may be of the conveyor-type whichmoves. a lamp to aplurality of positions for various operations thereonor as a stationary machine, in which a lamp may be positioned in andremoved from a single holder by an operator.

A conveyor-type of machine may include a plurality of holders adapted tobe moved in operative relation to soldering mechanism, for example, thelamp may be positionedto have the axially disposed conductor soldered tothe base and may then be moved to operative relation with anothersoldering mechanism and automatically positioned to have theperipherally disposed leading-in conductor soldered to the base.

Mechanism for supporting a lamp,.as set forth in the present inventionis important, since such mechanism maybe actuated to hold a lamp inseveral operative positions and may, for the sake of conven1ence,-bedesignated herein as a tilting-Sn port.

The invention will be more fuly understood by reference to the annexeddrawing, in which 1 Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a stationary-typesoldering machine embodying the present invention; for automaticallysoldering both the axially v Fig. 5 is a detail in section showing thecontainer for holding the flux;

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of bulb-holdini mechanism ig. 7 is an endview, on a reduced scale, of the holder shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is aview in elevation of a conveyortype machine having thepresent invention applied thereto, and

Fig. 9 is a more or less diagrammatic plan view of Fig. 8.

Referrin more particularly to Figs 1 and 2, the invention may include abase 10 having a pair of gripping members 11 and 12 movable in bearings13 and 14 and provided with friction pads 15 for engagement with thebulb portion of a lamp 16. The members 11 and 12 may be normally urgedto grip a lamp through the action of springs 17 positioned in engagementwith collars 18 on the members and with bearings 14 integral with thebase 10.

An additional rest 19 to receive the base portion of the lamp may beprovided. When a lamp is positioned, a solder feeding mechanismindicated as a whole by the numeral 21, may be actuated to position anend 22 ofa length of solder 23 adjacent a leadingin wire 24 (see Fig.3), which projects over a base 25 of the lam 16. The solder-feedingmechanism (see ig. 4) may comprise a jaw 26 pivoted at the end of alever 28, which in turn, is secured to a shaft 29 movable in a bearingat the end of a slidable part 30. The part 30 may be movable in a guide31 at the upper end of a carrier 31. The shaft 29 which carries thelever 28 may be bent to provide a lever arm 32 connected by a sprin 33to an arm34 inte a1 with the part 30. fiy reason of the sprin 33, thelever 28 moves to press the jaw 26 in contact with the rod of solder 23which may pass through a piassage 35 in the movable part 30.

he aw 26 is normally in comparatively light tensional engagement withthe solder 23, so that when the movable part is retreated, the jaw mayslide and change its osition with respect to the length of solder. uringthe opposite or ejecting action of the jaw, means are rovided to pressthe jaw firmly upon the so der and thereby force it forward as themovable part 30 is moved.

The above means may com rise a plunger 36 movable in a bore 37 in t epart 30 and may have a beveled end 38 adapted to engage with an end 39of the lever 28. The plunger 36 may be provided with a dependmg arm 41for engagement with a rod 42 movable in the carrier and normally urgedin contact with the arm 41 by a spring 43. The spring 43, therefore,operates to effect a return movement of the solder-gripping mechanism;that is, for positioning the solder in operative relation to a lampbase. When the rod of solder 22 is in position to be gripped by the jaw26, mechanism including a lever arm 44 is actuated to engage with theplunger 36 causin lever 28 and force t e with the rod of solder.

The mechanism for operating the lever arm 44 may comprise a bent lever44' pivoted on a pin 45 mounted in a bearing secured to any suitablestationary portion of the machine. An end 46' of the lever 44' may bepositioned in engagement with a cam 50 secured to the cam shaft 53.

A rotation of the shaft 53 will cause the bent lever 44 to engage with apin 51 movable in a suitable bearing to bring the pin into engagementwith the lever arm 44 and move the plunger 36 in opposition'to thespring 43 to eject a predetermined amount of solder. A spring 52 mountedon the pin 51 may operate to normally disengage the pin with the leverarm 44 and also actuate the bent lever to maintain the end 46' thereofin contact with the cam 50.

The reciprocatory movement of the part 30 may be limited by a pin 45secured in the plunger 36 and disposed in a slot 46 inthe part 30 andthe outer movement of the slide rod 42 is limited by reason of a stoparm 47 on the lever 44 adapted to engage with a lug 48 upon the carrier31'.

.It has been found desirable to apply a flux to the solder by dipping anend thereof into a quantity of liquid flux. The flux may be carried in acontainer 49, mounted on a support 51, secured to the base 10. The container 49 serves as a reservoir to hold a relatively large uantity offlux and an auxiliary rcceptac e 52 is movable into and out from thecontainer to carry a quantity of flux to position for the immersion ofthe solder therein. The auxiliary receptacle 52 provides means wherebyan amount of flux is positioned for the insertion of the solderirrespective of the level of the main quantity of flux in the container.The receptacle 52 may be a relatively shallow vessel or may be in theform of a plate either solid or in the form of a mesh which, uponimmersion in the flux within the reservoir, carries a sufiicient amountof the flux for deposit upon the solder.

Motion may be transmitted for performing the various operations throughthe agency of the cam shaft 53 which is provided with a bevel gear 52'in mesh with a it to ,enga e with the jaw 26 in rm contact bevel gear53" on a shaft 54 which may be driven by means of any suitable source ofenergy, such for example, as a motor (not shown). The shaft 53 isrovided with a cam 54 for effecting a vertical reciprocable movement ofthe receptacle 52, which is fastened to a guide 55 slidable on thesupport 51.

Secured to the guide 55 1s a slide rod 56 movable in a hearing 57secured to the base 10. The free end of the rod 56..is provided with aroller 58 disposed in contact with one arm of a lever 59 pivoted in adepending bearing 61. An opposite end 62 of the lever 59 is normallyheld in engagement with the cam 54 through the,action of a spring 63,having one end secured to the rod 56 and the opposite end secured to arigid portion of i the machine. It will be evident, therefore,

that a rotation of the cam 54.which may be the shaft may 'project'fromthe and may' be secured to one end of an arm 67.

The opposite end 70 of the arm may be disposed in contact with alat'eralcam face 68 (see Fig. 2) of a cam 69 secured to the; cam

shaft 53.

A spring 71 (see Fig. 2) having" one end.

secured to the arm 67 and the otherendsecured to a'rigid portion of themachine serves to maintain the end 70 in contact with'the cam face 68. Arotary movement of the cam 69 will, therefore, effect a. movement'of,the end 70 in a substantially horizontal plane and thus cause anoscillation of the shaft 64. This oscillatory movement of the shaftimparts a similar movement to the carrier 31 to bring the end 22 of thesolder into the flux and to position over the base 25 of a posi tionedlamp. It will be understood that when the carrier 31 is moved to immersethe solder in the flux, the lever arm '44 travels away from the pin 51but is returned to operative relation when the carrier has been moved toposition for the ejection of solder upon the base.

When the solder is positioned,a soldering iron in the form of aheated-member 72, is

moved in contact with the solder to cause a 'fusionthereofand a depositof a portion of.

solder upon the leading-in wire to secure it to the base. A The iron 72may be heated by any suitable means, as for example, a burner 7 3positioned to direct a flame adjacent the operative end of the iron. Theiron 72 is moved vertically to make contact with the end 22 of thesolder and is carried on a cross member 7 4 secured to a slide-rod 75movable us remove the iron from its operative position. The burner 73may be secured to a bracket 79 which may be fastened to the slide rod 75and thus be movable with the solderin iron to maintain aconstantimpingement of the flame thereon.

The foregoing construction and operations relate to a machine in whichbulbs are. inserted and a soldering operation performed,

after which the bulb is removed by an operator. The invention may,however, be applied to a conveyor type of machine, wherein the bulbs areinserted in position for one of the soldering operations and theirpositions auto- I matically change for the other soldering operation.

."Mechanism for supporting a" bulb in sev-g eralpositions is moreclearly illustrated'in Fig. 6, and may comprise a bracket 86 having anoffset portion 87 provided with an aperture 90 to receive the axialcontact of the base of a lamp from which a leading-in wire 90 projects.A concave,member-88 for'engagement with'the bulb portion of a lamp isalso provided to secure the base in ontact with the offset portion 87 ofthe bracket 86. The member 88 may be vided with a shank 89, slidable inbearings 91 and 92 integral with the bracket 86.

A spring 93 maybe mounted upon the shank and positioned between a collar94 and the bearing 92, to normally urge the concave member to positionto engage with a lamp. The bracket 86 may be provided with a, hub 95having ashaft 96 secured therein, which shaft may be journaled in andproject from a bearing 97 integral with a support 98. This support maybe in the form of-a conveyor to be later described.

Keyed to the shaft 96 may be provided 'a pinion 99 disposedin mesh witha suitably positioned gear-rack 100. The gear-rack may be providedwithan extension 101 having rollers 102 and 103 adjacent its lower end. Theholder or bracket 86 may therefore be moved from a vertical' toahorizontal position by a reciprocation of the. rack 100. The rack maybe operated by a box caml04 suitably positioned on a disk 105r0tatablewith a shaft 106. The bracket 86 may support a lamp with itslongitudinal axis in a vertical position, until the roller 102 entersthe box cam, at which time the shaft 106 may be rotated by mechanismhereinafter described.

As the cam is moved and the roller 102 traverses the inclined surfacethereof, the rack 100 is raised, thus efl'ecting an oscillation of thebracket 86 to position the lamp, held therein, with its longitudinalaxis in a horizontal position.

The above mechanism for supporting a lamp may readily be applied to aconveyor type machine having a spider .or conveyor 98, as illustrated inFigs. 8 and 9. The conveyor may be provided with any desired number 0brackets or lamp holders 86 adjacent the periphery thereof. The conveyormechanism may comprise a supporting table 108 having a central bearing109, in which a vertical shaft 111 maybe disposed, having its lower endsecured in a step 112 and its upper end extendin above the conveyor toprovide a support i dr solder feeding mechanisms.

The solder feeding mechanisms employed in the conveyor type of machinemay be similar to the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 8,soldering mechanism 112' for soldering the circumferentially disposedleading-in wire is shown sup orted on a bracket 113', secured to the saft 111. Mechanism 114 is shown for soldering the leadin -in wire at theaxiall disposed contact or a lamp and this mec anism may be sup rted ona bracket 115 secured to the sha t 111.

The solder feeding mechanisms, when employed in the conveyor typemachine, may be suitably positioned as more clearly shown in Fig. 9, tooperate upon the bulbs when in their vertical and horizontal positions.

Mechanism for operating the various movable parts of the conve ormachine may include the vertical shat 111 which is provided with asleeve 113 upon which is another or outer sleeve 114, both of thesleeves being arranged to run free. The sleeve 113 is rovicled with abevel gear 115, in mesh wit another bevel gear. 116, WlllCll in turn isconnected by a stub shaft 117 to a gear 118 in mesh with a gear 119secured to a driving shaft 121 rotated by a motor 120 which isassociated with this shaft by mechanism to be later described. Arotation of the shaft 121 will, by reason of the aforementioned gears,transmit rotary motion to the sleeve 113. This sleeve extends upward- 1ythrough the conveyor 98. and is provided with a spur gear 122 disposedin mesh with anothergcar 123 carried on a supporting bracket 124.

Secured to the underside of the gear wheel 123 is a bevel gear 125disposed in mesh with another bevel gear 126. The bevel gear 126 issecured to cam shaft 53, which may carry cams for operating the variousmovable parts of the soldering device, as shown in Fig. 2 and describedin connection therewith. The sleeve 113 may also have secured thereto, agear wheel 127 in mesh with a gear-wheel 128 carried in a bracket 129mounted on the shaft 111. The gear-wheel 128 may also be provided with abevel gear 131 disposed in mesh with a bevel 1 gear 132, secured to acam shaft 133. The shaft 133 may be provided with the necessary cammembers to operate the various movable parts of the soldering mechanismin a manner similar to that descrlbed above for the operation of thesoldering mechanism, shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The conveyor 98 is securedto the outer'sleeve 114 and may be intermittently rotated.

As illustrated, this intermittent movement may be accomplished in anydesirable manner as for example, through the action of a disk 134secured to the sleeve 114. The disk is provided with a plurality of lugs135 adapted to engage with a rib 136 ora cylindrical member 137 which ismounted on a shaft 137 of the motor 120. The shaft 137 is connected bybevel gears 138 and 139 to the driving shaft 121 which effects arotation of the sleeve 113. Que end of the driving shaft 121 may beemployed to actu ate mechanism for rotating the extension 101 whichcarries the disk 105 upon which the box cam 104 is mounted.

The last mentioned connecting mechanism may include a bevel gear 139 inmesh with a bevel gear 141 rotatable on a shaft 142 in a bearing 143,integral with the underside of the supporting table 108. The shaft 142may also be provided with a bevel gear 144 disposed in mesh with a bevelgear 145 secured to the extension 101.

Suitable that when t e roller 102 enters the cam 104, the driving shaftwill operate to rotate the disk 105 and thus lift the shank 101 toosition the lamp holder or bracket 86 to Bring a lamp secured thereinwith its longitudinal axis in a horizontal position. Suitably arrangedupon the table 108 ma be provided a stationary cam 145 (see igs. 8 and9) having an inclined surface 147 to engage with the roller 103 of theextension 101 and thus during the travel of the conveyor, cause adownward movement of the extension 101, thereby actuating the rack 100to rotate the pinion 9.6 and brin a lamp in the bracket 86 to a verticalposition for a solderin operation at the axially disposed contact of thebase and for the convenient removal of the lamp.

In practice, an operator may feed lamps to a machine by placing them inthe holders when 'the holders are in their vertical positions. Themachine may include any de-, sired number of holders and when a lamp isproperly positioned, it moves a holder in operative relation to themechanism for soldering the leading-in wire to the axially disposedcontact portion of the base.

During the time interval when the operator is positioning a lamp, thesoldering mechanism may 0 erate simultaneously to solder the leading-1nwire to n axially disposed contact and the leading-in wire upon the sideor periphcr Y of the base.

The indexing mechanism may be timed to permit the soldering operation,during which time an operator removes one lamp and positions anotherlamp in the holder.

ear ratios may be provided so bases'and the cost of this operation isthus greatl reduced.

\ it is obvious that modifications may be made,

I Alt ough "a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown anddescribed herewith,

' therein without departing from the spirit with a support leading-inwires disposed adjacent to differand scope of the invention as set forthin the a pended claims.

Wliat is claimed is: j

1-. In a solderin machine the combination or a based lamp having entportions of the exterior of the base, a solder feeding mechanism movableto and from said base, means for moving said mechanism to positionsolder adjacent to a leading-in wire, a solder iron independent of saidmechanism,'means for heatmg the iron, means for moving the same to causea portion of solder to secure the leading-1n wire to said base and meansfor changing the position of said lamp to present another leadlng-inwire for a soldering operation.

2. 'In a soldering machine the combination with a support for a basedincandescent electric lamp having leading-in wires positioned externalof said base, a container having a flux therein, common means forautomatically dipping solder into said flux and for positioning saidsolder adjacent to a leading-in wire, means for heating the solder tocause a portion thereof to secure the leading-in wire to the base andmeans for changing the position of the lamp to 7 present anotherleading-in wire for a soldering operation.

3. A machine for soldering leading-in wires to the bases of incandescentelectric lamps comprising a conveyor, means for rotating said conveyor,a plurality of pivoted lamp-supports mounted on sa1d conveyor, mechanismfor applying solder to a leading-in 'wireadjacent the axially disposedcontact of the base of a lamp, mechanism for applying solder to theleadin -in wire disposed circumferentially of the base of a lamp, meansfor actuating the supports for automatically moving lamps in saidsupports in operative relation to said soldering mechanisms and meansfor oscillating the lamp supports to change the positions of lampstherein for the respective soldering operations.

.4. In amachine for soldering the leadingin wires to the base portionsof incandescent electric lamps, the combination with a lampsupportcomprising a bracket pivoted at one end thereof, a projectionon saidbracket to receive the base portion of a lamp, a concave movement ofsaid bracket to member and means I for resiliently retaining said memberin contact with the bulb portion of said lamp to retain the lamp in saidbracket, a pinion associated with said bracket at the pivo-t ointthereof, a rack engaged with said pinion and means for re ciprocatingsaid rack to elfect an oscillatory position lamps for soldering Qerations.

' 5; In a machine for soldering the leadingin wires to the baseportionsof incandescent electric lamps, the combination with a lampsupportcomprisin a bracket pivoted at one end thereof, a pro ection on saidbracket to receive the base portion of a lamp, a concave member andmeans for resiliently retaining said member in contact with the bulbportion of said lamp to retain the lamp in said bracket and meansassociated with said bracket to effect a movement thereof from avertical to a horizontal position to facilitate soldering operations.

6. In a machine for solderin the leading- 1n wires to the base portions0 incandescent electric lamps, the combination with a lamp supportcomprising a bracket pivoted at one end thereof, a projection on saidbracket to receive the base portion of a lam a concave member and meansfor resilient y retaining said member in contact with the bulb portionof said lamp to hold the lamp in said bracket, a pinion associated withsaid bracket at the pivot point thereof, a rack engaged with saidpinion, an extension on said rack having a roller, a: cam member andmeans for rotating said cam member to engage said roller to move saidsupport to a horizontal position to facilitate soldering operations. v

7. In a machine for soldering the leading- .in wires to the baseportions of incandescent electric lamps, the combination with a lampsupport comprising a bracket pivoted at one endther'eof, a projection onsaid bracket to receive the base portion of a 1am a concave member andmeans for resilient y retaining said member in contact with the bulbportion of lamp to hold the lamp in said bracket, a pinion associatedwith said bracket at the pivot point thereof, a rack engaged with saidpinion, an extension on said rack having a roller, a cam member, meansfor rotating said cam member to en age said roller to move said supportto a orizontal position and means for moving said rack to averticalposition to facilitate soldering operations.

8. In a machine for solderin the leadingin wires to the base portions 0incandescent electric lamps, the combination with a lamp rollers tobring the rack to a horizontal position for a soldering operation and astationary cam to engage another roller to bring the rack to anotherposition for another soldering operation.

9. A machine for soldering leading-in.

wires to the bases of incandescent electric lamps comprising a conveyor,a plurality of pivoted lamp supports mounted on said conveyor, means.for moving the lamp supports alternately from vertical to horizontalpositions during a movement of the conveyor, means for solderingleading-in wires to one ortion of bases of said lamps when the amps arein their horizontal positions and means for soldering leading-in wiresto another portion of the bases when the lamps are in their verticalpositions.

10. A machine for soldering leading-in wires to the bases ofincandescent electric lamps comprising a conveyor, a plurality ofpivoted lamp supports mounted on said conveyor, means for reciting saidsupports to alternately move lamps from vertical to horizontalpositions, a plurality of solder feed mechanismgmeans for applying aflux to solder supported in said mechanisms, means for actuating saidlamp supports to alternately position lamps in horizontal and verticalpositions in operative relation to said solder mechanism.

11. A machine for soldering a leading in wire to a baseof'tin-incandescent electric lamp comprising a. conveyor, means forretating the 'ctmveyor,- a movable lamp suport mounted on-the conveyor,mechanism or applying solderto the leading-in wire adjacent totheaxially disposed contact on the base of a lamp, means for changing theposition of said support after the last mentioned soldering operation,mechanism for applying solder to the leading-in. Wiredisposedcircumferentially of the base of the lamp and means for actuating theconveyor to convey a supported lamp from one soldering mechanism toanother.

12. A machine for performing alateral and axial soldering operation onan object comprising a movable support for the object, a solderingmeans, and means for actuatin said support to alternately position saicobject in operative relation to said soldering means for performing alateral and axial soldering operation.

13. A. machine for performing a lateral and axial soldering operation onan electric incandescent lamp comprising means for supporting a lamp, asoldering device, and means for changing the relative positions of saiddevice and said support to alternately position a lamp for a lateral andaxial soldering operation.

14. A machine for solderin leading-iii Wires to thesides and ends oilamp bases comprising supports for said bases, a plurality of solderingdevices, means for moving said supports from one soldering device toanother and means for, changing the relative positions of said basesduring said movement.

15A machine for soldering leading-in wires to the sides and ends of lampbases comprising a plurality of oscillating supports for said bases, aplurality of soldering devices, means for moving said supports from onesoldering device l0 another, and means for oscillating said supportsduring their movement between the soldering devices to present differentsurfaces of the bases to the soldering devices.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 19th day ofFebruary, 1924.

HARRY DE FOREST MADDEN.

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